WIPO IP Enforcement News: March 2003

The Interministerial Commission to Counteract Activities Suspected of Infringing Intellectual
and Industrial Property Rights (CAPI, acronym in Spanish) publishes an annual report on the
activities of its two working groups: one on copyright and related rights and the other on
industrial property. The task of this Commission is to undertake all those activities considered to
be necessary or adequate to better protect intellectual property in Spain.

The reports of the Interministerial Commission (only in Spanish) as well as a section called
Usurpación de derechos de Propiedad Industrial (piratería), containing relevant information on the
subject, can be found on the web site of the Spanish Office for Patents and Marks at
http://www.oepm.es/internet/infgral/primera.htm

European Commission: Proposal for a Regulation to strengthen customs action in the enforcement
of intellectual property rights

On January 20, 2003, the European Commission submitted to the Council a proposal for a Council
Regulation concerning customs action against goods suspected of infringing certain intellectual
property rights and the measures to be taken by the competent authorities against goods found to
have infringed such rights. The proposal is intended to replace an existing Regulation (3295/94 EC)
in order to make the law clearer, extend its scope to new intellectual property rights, make the
rules more accessible for right holders and provide a more effective legal instrument.

European Commission: proposal for a Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property
rights

On 30th January 2003, the European Commission presented a proposal for a "Directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council on measures and procedures to ensure the enforcement of
intellectual property rights". The proposal is intended to harmonise national laws on the means of
enforcing intellectual property rights and to establish a general framework for the exchange of
information between the responsible national authorities. It would ensure a level playing field for
right holders in the EU, reinforce measures against offenders and thus act as a deterrent to those
engaged in counterfeiting and piracy. This proposal complements the recent proposal by the
Commission for a Regulation to facilitate seizures by customs of goods suspected of infringing
certain intellectual property rights and the measures to be taken against goods found to have
infringed such rights.

United States of America: Annual Report of the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement
Coordination Council

In the United States of America, the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination
Council reports annually on its coordination activities to the President, and to the Committees on
Appropriations and on the Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives. This report,
submitted in October 2002, is the second annual report issued by the Council on its coordinating
activities. It includes a compendium of agency activities relating to domestic and international
intellectual property rights enforcement efforts and the mission of the National Intellectual
Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council.